The lobby of Hope Water & Light (HWL) was teeming with activity as community leaders, business owners, and local residents gathered this morning for the annual HWL Chamber Community Coffee. The event, which has become a celebrated tradition for this utility company, offered more than just a spectacular spread of refreshments and warm fellowship; it served as a platform to highlight the vital, often invisible work that helps keep this city running.
This coffee held special significance as HWL joined the nation in celebrating Drinking Water Week, so the HWL team shared statistics to paint a picture of the massive, meticulously managed infrastructure. HWL currently maintains approximately 160 miles of main water lines and 15 miles of service lines, supported by 1,700 valves and 700 fire hydrants that ensure both service reliability and community safety.
General Manager of Operations Russell Cornelius greeted guests with his trademark emphasis on the "local" nature of the utility. "We are a local utility company run by local people," Cornelius said. "Our customers are also our friends and neighbors. Events like this coffee are important because they allow us to connect with the people we serve and remind them that we are here, working around the clock to make life easier and safer for this community."
Chris Fore, Water Distribution Specialist, spoke to the dedication required to manage the 4,300 water meters serviced each month, in addition to the upkeep of seven water tanks that boast a total capacity of 4.75 million gallons of water. In 2025 alone, HWL produced a staggering 1,237,605,000 gallons of water. "Our personnel work incredibly hard to make sure every drop of water that reaches a home or business is safe and reliable," Fore noted. "From the 160 miles of pipe in the ground to the seven tanks standing across the city, there is a lot of heart and effort poured into this system every single day. We take great pride in meeting the high standards our community deserves."
As attendees visited with the HWL staff, the conversation frequently turned to the utility’s recent technological leaps, including the fiber-optic internet and the SmartHub app. However, the core message of the morning remained the utility's providing that most basic of needs: clean, reliable water.
The Chamber Community Coffee once again proved that while Hope Water & Light is a leader in technical innovation and infrastructure, it remains, at its heart, a people-driven organization. By opening their doors and sharing their progress, the team at HWL continues to strengthen the bond between the utility and the neighbors they are so proud to serve.
